On Friday April 5th, WagonWheel Presents… three of the finest live acts on the UK scene all in one glorious night at Shakespeares. Making their WagonWheel debut, but no strangers to Sheffield in recent years, are The Lucky Strikes. From Leigh-On-Sea they’re carrying on the finest musical traditions of the Thames Delta, from initial forays in garage-blues towards an impressive melange of roots music and southern rock. Sheffield’s own Neil McSweeney is set for a busy summer of gigs ahead of the eagerly awaited release of this third album later this year, tonight performing as a trio. And fresh from a wave of praise and great reviews for his new live album Greedy Magicians, our good friend Quiet Loner opens the show. Advance tickets priced at £6 are available from http://www.wegottickets.com/event/198776. Entry on the night will be £7. Doors open 8pm.

***THE LUCKY STRIKES***

The Lucky Strikes sound like tobacco, typewriters and fiddles and are a blues, garage, Americana, Spaghetti Western, fiddle-powered howlin’ heavin’ rock ‘n’ roll band from the Thames River Delta. The Lucky Strikes channel blues country and gospel into their own brand of cinematic Americana.

The songwriting vision of Matt Boulter and Dave Giles focuses on literate ragged alternative country, influenced by The Band, Tom Waits and the spaghetti westerns of Ennio Morricone. Boulter, who also tours with Simone Felice and Duke and the King, possesses an urgent soaring voice, often compared to Mike Scott from the Waterboys.

Formed in 2006, the band recorded their debut album after just 6 months. This was followed by the Chronicles of Solomon Quick. The half true/half fictional account of the man who killed blues singer Robert Johnson. Next came Gabriel Forgive My 22 Sins, the story of a boxer who descends into madness after taking a bribe to throw a fight.

Album number 4 is expected soon.

“I honestly can’t think of anyone else who is exploring this musical ground right now and as such The Lucky Strikes are pretty unique” 9/10, Americana-UK

“this one is a real contender and will floor you with it’s left jab, body shot, right hook and upper cut combo of guitars, fiddle, keyboards and drums” Beat Surrender

Neil McSweeney is a songwriter from Sheffield who performs his material on his own or sometimes with five-piece band The Gents (tonight will be a trio).

McSweeney started writing his Americana-tinged, folksy solo material while teaching English in Italy. Upon returning to his native Sheffield, he continued to write songs inspired by the likes of Low and Papa M, and his intense, brooding live performances quickly won him many fans.

With two acclaimed albums already to his name, debut ‘Remember To Smile’ and 2009 follow up ’Shoreline’, a third record is set for release later this year with recent shows having previewed some of those new tunes.

“Deeply felt, brooding songs rich in imagery…he has the tools to make a real impact” The Guardian

As Quiet Loner he sings songs about love, loss, infidelity, suicide, murder, capital punishment, the database state, terrorism, religion, war, fallen angels, the secret rulers of the world and the redemptive power of country music. Hill is an accomplished raconteur and powerful live performer delivering a show that is emotional, often funny, usually political, occasionally angry, sometimes satirical but nearly always gentle and human.

Inspired by the storytelling traditions of American folk and country music, Hill’s songs also have a distinctly British lyrical bite. His recording and live work as Quiet Loner has won him many accolades, including an Americana UK Album of the Year 2004, Americana-chart topping albums, 4-star reviews from the likes of Uncut and The Daily Mirror and radio play from BBC6 Music. His live credentials include support slots for Lambchop, Joe Pernice, Neko Case and Chris Mills.

Latest album ‘GreedyMagicians’ was recorded live in a Salford church over a single evening in May, ‘Greedy Magicians’ is a collection of contemporary protest songs seething with disgust and shot through with melancholy at the state of our coalition-led nation. It’s an album which responds both personally and politically, reflecting on recent events and rewriting them as the latest chapters in a long and historic struggle of the many against the few.

I had every intention of coming the night Matt played but the snow got the better of me, really wanted to see Woodenbox again too. Couldn't get the week after when Neil was on as i was at another gig here.

I had every intention of coming the night Matt played but the snow got the better of me, really wanted to see Woodenbox again too. Couldn't get the week after when Neil was on as i was at another gig here.

Never mind it's time we tripped to Sheffield and made your life a misery...